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Matt Henry Scripts History; Here Are Best Test Bowling Figures For New Zealand Vs ZIM

Jatin

Matt Henry bagged a fifer vs Zimbabwe [Source: @ABsay_ek/x.com]Matt Henry bagged a fifer vs Zimbabwe [Source: @ABsay_ek/x.com]

When Matt Henry gets it right, he really gets it right. The Kiwi seamer has always been one to watch when the ball is doing a bit, but in the ongoing first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, he went full beast mode.

With pace, bounce and just enough nibble off the deck, he tore through Zimbabwe’s batting like a hot knife through butter. A spell that will be remembered for years to come with 6 wickets for just 39 runs. That performance wasn't just magical, it broke into the record books.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler in Tests against Zimbabwe

5. Shane Bond: 6/51 At Bulawayo, 2005

When Shane Bond was fit, he was unplayable. Full stop. In 2005, Zimbabwe felt the heat as Bond steamed in like a bullet train and blew them away with raw pace and deadly accuracy. 6/51 was Bond at his best: fast, furious, and frightening.

The batters looked like they were dodging grenades, not cricket balls. He finished the match with a ten-for too, stamping his authority in style as New Zealand won by an innings and 46 runs.

4. Dipak Patel: 6/50 At Harare, 1992

Back when spinners were still trying to figure out how to win games outside the subcontinent, Dipak Patel decided to rewrite the script. His 6/50 against Zimbabwe in Harare came out of nowhere and stunned everyone.

Known more for his tight off-spin and bowling in ODIs with the new ball, Patel showed that he could do damage with the red cherry too. Zimbabwe had no answers as he ripped through their middle order with flight and a bit of magic as the Kiwis won by 177 runs.

3. Neil Wagner: 6/41 At Bulawayo, 2016

When Neil Wagner used to bang it in, batters knew they were in for a bruising day. In 2016, Wagner brought out the chin music in Bulawayo and it was game over for Zimbabwe. His 6/41 was a gritty, heart-on-the-sleeve spell full of fire and bounce as it helped bowl Zimbabwe out for 164.

He ran in all day like a man possessed, bowling short, bowling smart and making sure Zimbabwe had no breathing space. Classic Wagner: not flashy, just good old-fashioned hard yakka. New Zealand managed to reply with 576/6d and bowled the hosts out for 295 to secure a win by an innings and 117 runs

2. Matt Henry: 6/39 At Bulawayo, 2025

Matt Henry’s 6/39 in Bulawayo in the first Test wasn’t just about numbers. It was a statement. From the very first over, he had Zimbabwe on the ropes. Seam, swing, bounce, he had it all going. He picked up key wickets at just the right time and made sure the lower order didn’t wag.

He cleaned up the tail like sweeping dust under the rug. Everything clicked. Every ball looked like it had a GPS locked onto the stumps. And when it was all done, Zimbabwe had crumbled for just 149. This was a demolition job and Henry walked away with his name etched at the top of the pile.

1. Chris Martin: 6/26 At Napier, 2005

Old-school fans will remember Chris Martin, the real swing merchant from New Zealand. Back in 2005, after New Zealand posted 495/7d, New Zealand managed to bowl out the hosts for 51 courtesy of a collective bowling effort.

The Kiwis enforced follow-on and that’s when Martin rocked Zimbabwe’s top order with a 6/26 carnage that left their batting lineup in tatters, bowling them out for 143. In just 51 deliveries, he sent 6 batters packing, bowling with venom. That spell in Napier was peak Martin: pure rhythm, accurate lines and no freebies.